Our Impact


Extended Learning Outdoors (ELO)

The ELO program creates an opportunity for virtual and real worlds to create a learning environment for children. We use technology and sensory equipment to connect support STEM education outdoors.

Paint4Play

P4P provides an opportunity for kids, their school community, and their neighborhood to gather, socialize, plan, and design an art project for an asphalt schoolyard. The reclaiming of these neglected barren spaces is a healing process that culminates in a day-long celebration of food, music and painting. This collective work of art endures as a symbol of future unity, progress and wholeness.  Two schools, Tanner G. Duckrey and George W. Nebinger have participated and funds are currently being raised to continue the program.

Philly Schoolyards Exchange Program

The Philly Schoolyards Exchange Program brings graduate students studying landscape architecture to Philadelphia for an immersive experience where they spend time with students, families and schools to reimagine their schoolyard. The graduate students participate in a week long program where they will work with a local public school in Philadelphia to create a site and redevelopment schoolyard plan. Twenty-one schools in north, south and west Philadelphia have received master concept plans that include cost estimates, phasing and design development drawings. University of Colorado and Iowa State University have participated and we hope to grow the effort to other institutions.

Dig Philly

Dig Philly partners with local public schools, community leaders, parents, students and families to create opportunities for communities to voice their ideas and maintain long-term relationships that allow community members to manage green spaces in their neighborhoods. If this project is successful, Philadelphia will be the first city to transform schoolyards with green infrastructure into multi-use facilities that serve and educate the community and protect the environment.

Other Schoolyard Redevelopment Efforts

During the past three years TBS has worked with individual schools as they begin to reimagine and build their schoolyard.  With a grant from the Penn Treaty Special Services District Haratio B. Hackett’s gateway was constructed.  At McKinley school two creative place making grants from LISC resulted in community driven schematic plans and entry banners.  At Duckrey, TBS created and currently spearheads their community engagement model.

Fiesta Playgrounds


Kids have more choices when there’s a wide variety of play elements arrayed before them.  From painted games, maps, tunnels, performance stages, gardens, council rings or just a place to sit a moment, a varied mixture of play elements activate greater student engagement.  Outdoor visuals matter, too.  To create a Fiesta Playground, all that a School Partner needs to do is choose their preferences from a Menu of Options. Professionals will assist with site layout and installation of the amenities is provided. Each item on the Menu of Options was thoughtfully designed and the materials were chosen to provide extended durability. As a result, a Fiesta Schoolyard can be ready in a few months, and last for years.